Jesus says your views don’t count

Yesterday, in one of my two summer communication studies classes, I was browbeaten for having a contrary opinion.

And, here it is:

I believe the universal powers that be– call them what you will, and assuming they actually exist– wouldn’t judge someone based on race, religion, size, choice of profession, bank account balance or anything else.

I also believe the argument against same-sex marriage is entirely a religious (i.e. Christian) one that has no place in a country listing “Freedom of Religion” as one of its main principles, along with claims to separate the state and “the church.”

For this I was warned, “You’re in the Bible Belt, girl,” with a particularly hateful sneer on the “girl” part– which seemed peculiar since I’m 31 and a capable, intelligent woman who is well aware of my location on this planet and odd since we’re communications scholars who know words count.

Later, after class, I reached out to the sneer-er and said, “I apologize if my comments offended you.”

The response was a lecture about Jesus and, again, quite hateful. I was not given an opportunity to respond, not that I could have—what with my jaw melted into the carpet and all.

I repeat: I do not buy into the idea that any Creator-figure, much less an everybody-loving, forgiving figure like Jesus, would be judgmental and hateful. In fact, I am sure in I Corinthians Jesus is quoted, which is a whole other issue, as saying, “Love is the greatest thing”—or something real dang close to that.

In our ever-cramped, politically heated world, what we need is love, sweet love, and a little more kindness and understanding—not belligerent polarization.

All the same, I smiled when I arrived home, turned the corner to my office and stood face-to-face with my most recent art purchase, a Sister Louisa original:

 Amen, Sister.